Bihar: Father-Daughter's Hefty Income Began With Only 500 Sq Ft Land And Rs 500

There used to be a time when farming meant living in poverty within limited means. In absence of livelihood options people would either migrate to cities or continue with their loss-making agricultural activities. But with changing times and upcoming technology this trend is changing too.

New experiments in the field of agriculture have created many successful stories like our protagonist today - a young successful farmer from Sitamarhi district of Bihar who has achieved nothing short of a miracle. Her story inspires us to shun the pessimistic view we have for agriculture.

There was a time when Anupam Kumari was very worried about the financial condition of his family. His father used to practice traditional farming besides working as a teacher. Despite the incessant hardwork their struggles didn't seem to end. In such dire situation, her father decided to give his full attention to farming and quit the teaching job. Anupam was done with her graduation and decided to join her father and do something novel to take charge of the situation.

Aspiring for accuracy in what was now their sole source of income, the duo turned to the local agricultural science center. Anupam received training on mushroom production and making vermicompost. They also learned the nuances of farming in various research institutes of Sitamarhi, Patna and Delhi. After returning to their village they started to produce mushrooms.

In the year 2010, they ventured into this new stream with a humble capital of Rs 500 on a 500 square feet farm. They were the first ones in the area to take up something like this and met with discouraging comments and taunts from villagers. People thought they were wasting their time, money and skills and would soon get into worse financial condition.

"People used to make fun of us. They would point fingers, laugh and say dekho gobar-chatta ugaa rahi hai," Anupam told India Today.

But they remained focussed and believed that their efforts will soon yield. Their hard work bore fruits and fetched them Rs 10,000 in the first three months. Those who would ridicule their practices now came to them seeking training.

Today, Anupam sells 50 quintals of mushrooms every three months. They are now self-sufficient and are also creating employment opportunities for other villagers as well. They use wheat, husk, and straw to make vermicompost and train others to it. Recently, they have also started fish farming and gardening.

Although they were battling a tough situation, they dared to do something different. Anupam and her father did not pay heed to the discouraging taunts of the villagers and in a few months became a source of inspiration for others.